An application for relief from the payment of duties imposed is to be filed with the District Director of Customs as defined in 19 CFR 1.1(d) if the following circumstances prevail:
To insure consideration in the liquidation (i.e., the assessment of duty) of the entry, the application for relief must be filed within 90 days from the date of the entry, except in meritorious cases, the District Director may grant an extension of 90 more days upon written request therefor.
46 C.F.R. §3